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Aurora LNG backs out

Citing economic factors, Aurora LNG ends liquefied natural gas project proposed for Digby Island
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A view of Casey Cove, from a beach on Dodge Cove, where a section of Nexen’s proposed Aurora LNG project would have gone. (Shannon Lough/Black Press)

Another liquefied natural gas project has pulled the plug on its plans for the North Coast.

Aurora LNG has spent four years exploring the possibility of shipping LNG from a site on Digby Island to Asian markets — and on Sept. 14 the project partners announced their decision to end their feasibility study.

“Through this feasibility study, Aurora LNG has determined that the current macro-economic environment does not currently support the partners’ vision of developing a large LNG business at the proposed Digby Island site,” the company said in a press release.

The project was a partnership between Nexen Energy, a subsidiary of CNOOC Ltd., and INPEX Gas British Columbia. The announcement comes on the heels of Petronas ending its Pacific NorthWest LNG project on Lelu Island in Port Edward on July 25, which also cited market conditions as to why it would not proceed.

After Petronas fell through, Aurora LNG was the further along in the environmental assessment process compared with the other six LNG projects proposed for the Prince Rupert area.

The project was proposed to handle 24 million metric tonnes of LNG per year, and had received its licence from the National Energy Board in October 2014.

“While disappointed in this outcome, Aurora LNG is proud of its work in northwest British Columbia over the past three years and the relationships it has built with local community members, Indigenous groups, stakeholders and government,” the company said.

“The partners are committed to a responsible and orderly conclusion of their activities in the Prince Rupert region.”